GOP unveils health reform repeal arsenal

Republicans have already introduced almost a dozen bills aimed at repealing, defunding and otherwise weakening Democrats’ healthcare reform law since the new Congress opened for business Wednesday.

At the same time, liberal Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.) followed through on a promise to reintroduce her public option bill. The Congressional Budget Office last year said it would save $68 billion over 10 years, but the government-run program was dropped from the reform.

{mosads}”This is the perfect moment for the public option,” Woolsey said in a statement. “It builds on the health care reform legislation by lowering costs and it provides a great way to bring down the deficit.”

In addition to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s (R-Va.) bill to repeal the entire law, at least two Republicans — Reps. Steve King (R-Iowa) and Connie Mack (R-Fla.) — have introduced straight repeal bills.

Others are more specific:

• Rep. Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) has a bill to repeal the individual mandate, and Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas) would prohibit federal funds to be used to enforce it;

• Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) would replace the healthcare reform law with “incentives to encourage health insurance coverage;”

• Rep. John Fleming (R-La.) has two bills — one would amend the law to allow states to elect not to establish a health exchange, while the other would prohibit the hiring of additional employees by the Internal Revenue Service to “implement, administer, or enforce” the law. He also proposes to rescind funds for the law’s Health Insurance Reform
Implementation Fund;

• Rep. Tom Graves (R-Ga.) would deauthorize appropriation of funds to carry out the law; and 

• Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Calif.) has a bill to repeal the law’s 1099 tax reporting requirement.

Other proposals don’t directly target the healthcare reform law.

Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) wants to allow Medicare beneficiaries the option of choosing a voucher for a health savings account or a high-deductible health insurance plan while eliminating the late enrollment penalties for people who wait until they’re 70 to enroll in Medicare. And Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) has a bill to “provide greater health care freedom for seniors.”

Cantor’s full repeal bill is set for a vote Wednesday.